Education leaders propose new testing strategy

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Education leaders are seeking to broker a compromise with Gov. Bobby Jindal on the standardized tests used in public schools next year.

But the idea floated Thursday appeared to be a non-starter with Jindal’s office in a continuing dispute over the Common Core education standards.Leaders of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education proposed to use a mix of Louisiana-specific test questions and material aligned to Common Core.

They say the approach would address contracting concerns raised by the Jindal administration.

But Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols says the education department’s existing contracts don’t allow for the approach proposed by BESE President Chas Roemer and board leaders.

Jindal says the education department violated procurement laws in moving to Common Core-tied standardized tests without seeking competitive bids for the contract.